First, the good news: TCM will continue to air classic films without commercial interruption, as the channel has done for the last two decades, to the delight of millions of viewers (including this one). And the popular “off-channel” experiences that allow TCM’s fiercely loyal fan base (again, looking in the mirror) to connect with the network in-person will continue.

“TCM is committed to maintaining the same high quality you’ve come to expect from us,” a Turner spokesperson told me. “That includes TCM’s extraordinary lineup of movies, which will continue to be presented uncut and commercial-free, as well as live events like the TCM Classic Film Festival and the TCM Cruise.”

Also, in the wake of an extensive management reorganization at Turner that culminated with the hiring of Kevin Reilly as the new head of TNT and TBS last week, I can report exclusively that TCM hasa new general manager.

Effective immediately, Jennifer Dorian, previously the chief strategy officer for Turner Entertainment Networks, takes on the position of general manager of TCM, a role formerly filled by Jeff Gregor. Whereas Gregor managed the channel in addition to his responsibilities as chief marketing officer for sister networks TNT and TBS, Dorian will be dedicated solely to TCM, which will remain based in Atlanta.

In her previous role with the company, Dorian had been in charge of strategy development for TNT, TBS, truTV, and TCM. She joined Turner fifteen years ago after stints at Pizza Hut, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company and led the rebranding of TNT in 2000 and TBS in 2004, as well as the relaunch of Court TV as truTV in 2007. But perhaps most notably to TCM fans, according to Deadline Hollywood, Turner management credits Dorian “with the exploration of brand extension into new areas –such as TCM’s Classic Film Festival.” The fact that the new TCM chief helped to establish a hugely popular venue for viewers to connect with the network face-to-face should be encouraging to loyalists.

Now the bad news: there will be fewer of those faces at the network to connect with.

I’m told by a source that Turner has laid off approximately a dozen TCM employees as part of the company-wide Turner 2020 initiative, first revealed by CEO John Martin on June 2. While the loss of even one job at is disheartening, it appears that TCMhas been impacted the least of all the Turner networks in terms of headcount reductions.

On October 6, Turner announced they would eliminate 1,475 positions, including 975 in Atlanta, and those layoffs are already rolling out across the company. CNN has been hit with staff reductions in Atlanta, Washington D.C., New York and Los Angeles, with roughly 300 positions – 8 percent of the network’s total staff – expected to be eliminated. And Layoff Fever has also spread throughout parent company Time Warner, with HBO expected to eliminate 7% of its 2,400 employees and Warner Bros. already in the process of cutting 10% of its 9,000 person workforce.

With Dorian, a marketing guru described as “a big champion of the (TCM) brand,” at the helm, a newly autonomous Turner Classic Movies may be poised for growth in areas viewers can only imagine. And, as DISH network continues the inexplicable blackout of the channel that began on October 21, now may be the time for TCM to start thinking outside the (cable) box.

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About willmckinley

I'm a New York City-based writer, video producer, print journalist, radio/podcast host, and social media influencer. I've been a guest on Turner Classic Movies (interviewed by Robert Osborne), NPR, Sirius Satellite Radio, and the official TCM podcast. My byline has appeared in Slate.com and more than 100 times in the pages of NYC alt weeklies like The Villager and Gay City News. I'm also a social media copywriter for Sony's getTV and a contributor to four film-and-TV-related books: "Monster Serial," "Bride of Monster Serial," "Taste the Blood of Monster Serial," and "Remembering Jonathan Frid."

I’m heartened to read most of this news, but sad about anyone losing their job. (Especially someone working at TCM which, of course, seems like the perfect place to work.) Thanks so much for this post, Will!

I agree with Karen. It’s great knowing that TCM will continue showing classic films uncut and commercial free but it’s devastating knowing that a dozen people have lost their jobs. I guess we can be thankful that not more people were laid off.

I agree, guys. One job lost, particularly at TCM, is awful. Looking at the big picture, though, it could have been much worse. They’ve added commercials to Boomerang, which previously had been almost entirely ad-free. They had made huge cuts at CNN, which has negatively impacted moral. TCM appears to have emerged from this intact, which is a huge relief. But my heart goes out to those who have lost jobs.

Glad to here the great news of TCM surviving completely intact. On another topic the day & date of the “Miracle on 34th St” showing in Herald Sq is skewed. The 22nd of Nov is a Saturday, Fri’s date is the 21st, so which is it on, FRI the 21st or Sat the 22nd?? Please look into this & post the correct day, date & time schedule.I tried to get this straight w the diff sites but to no avail. Thnx

I certainly hope not. Bob Dorian mispronounced and mangled every proper name and fact he was paid to enunciate on the air, at a rate probably twice as great as Robert Osborne does on TCM, which is bad enough.

Turner Classic movies is my classic movie drug I can’t get away from it try get out of the classic movie viewing not going happen I feel like Michael Corlone in Godfather 3 I thought I was out they pull me back in

Also I still fan of Movies tv network and Gettv here in Los Angeles market but sometime I get bored with them I put on Turner classic movies it is confort blanket on cold winter night in SO CAL

I would be devastated if anything happened to TCM. It is our only connection with so many films that have never been released on DVD. I keep discovering films every month that I would have never seen had it not been for this vital channel. Thanks Mr. Osborne, Mr. Mankiewicz and to the author Mr. McKinley, for keeping us informed.

Just discovered this blog. Thank you for it! Still trying to sort out the app. (watchtcm). Where can I find the list of cable providers with agreements for the app? Provider GCI here in Alaska doesn’t even answer questions unless they involve signing up for cable itself, so I’m hoping you might have an easier way. Any help appreciated.

The line up of movies in the last couple of weeks with more and more movies from 80’s, 90’s and even past 2000, I fear TCM will become another AMC full of garbage and commercials soon and to me it will be a damn shame. TCM is my fav. channel because of the Old Black and White films of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Of course the 60’s and some early 70’s also exploded what would be considered as Classic’s. But beyond this point I don’t want want to see these. There’s a Golden Age of Hollywood, I hope these people recognize that the last 45 years are not a part of it.

Seems to me this world takes gems and destroys them for no sane reason. TCM is a Gem, let the rest of the 1,000 movie channels show the junk TCM has aired for the last two weeks. I don’t want to see it.

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I'm a New York City-based writer, video producer, print journalist, radio/podcast host, and social media influencer. I've been a guest on Turner Classic Movies (interviewed by Robert Osborne), NPR, Sirius Satellite Radio, and the official TCM podcast. My byline has appeared in Slate.com and more than 100 times in the pages of NYC alt weeklies like The Villager and Gay City News. I'm also a social media copywriter for Sony's getTV and a contributor to four film-and-TV-related books: "Monster Serial," "Bride of Monster Serial," "Taste the Blood of Monster Serial," and "Remembering Jonathan Frid."